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Former Libyan Prime Minister Visits DU

Author(s)

Jeff Haessler

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September 21, 2016

During the 2011 Arab Spring, Libyan dictator Colonel Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown. In that moment in time the revolution brought hope to Libya. However, the struggles for the 6 million people in the North African country were far from over.

The first leader after Gaddafi was toppled, former Libyan Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril, visited DU's Josef Korbel School of International Studies last week and discussed his hopes for Libya. He explains Libya faces serious challenges today.

“There was no oil production for so many months. Our financial assets are frozen. The black market is flourishing in Libya. The value of the Libyan dinar is downhill. The dollar equals five dinars, which is unprecedented in Libyan history,” he said, adding that the only economies that are working are the economy of the militia and the economy of terrorists.

With the world changing so quickly, Jibril said looking at trends may help predict what’s next, particularly in areas of conflict. He suggested that the work being done at the Frederick S. Pardee Center for International Futures, a hub of long-term forecasting and global trend analysis, is invaluable.

“If used and taken seriously, if used the right way, I think the number of crises taking place in the world will be minimized substantially,” Jibril said. “I think the significance and the importance of such a think tank center as the Pardee Center, the model that I have seen today is a very ambitious comprehensive model that can help minimize the occurrence crises all over the world.”

Jibril’s advice for the next president of the United States as it relates to Libya? Try to understand Libya from a Libyan perspective, not from the international perspective.